These Heroic Students Are Standing Up to Rick Scott Against Stand Your Ground Laws

Trayvon Martin will not go quietly into the night, not if the Dream Defenders and those in solidarity around the world have anything to say about it.

Three days after a Sanford county jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the stalking and shooting death of Trayvon Martin, student activists and allies began an occupation of Florida Governor Rick Scott's office. They called it #TakeOverTuesday. And they need your help.

The Dream Defenders came from all over Florida to "demand that Governor Rick Scott call a special session of the Florida legislature to address the issues at the center of the Trayvon Martin tragedy: stand your ground vigilantism, racial profiling and a war on youth that paints us as criminals and funnels us out of schools and into jails," according to a press release.

With echoes of "We are here because Trayvon Can't be," they took over the hallways and the couches and filled the air with cheers and chants. "We demand the governor call a special session of the legislature to create a New Trayvon Martin Civil Rights Act for our state. We will remain here, standing OUR ground, for Trayvon, for justice, until our demands are met."

Who are the Dream Defenders and why are they making this stand? Phil Agnew addressed these questions on the steps of the Florida state capitol. Watch this:

And there's more to be done. You can stand with the Dream Defenders and help in the fight to end 'Stand Your Ground.' It's simple: You can sign the petition on moveon.org. Also, according to the official press release, "If you would like to make a statement of solidarity, take a picture of yourself with a statement of solidarity like 'Justice 4 Trayvon: We Stand with the Dream Defenders', 'End Racial Oppression', #EndStandYourGround,#TakeOverFL, 'I am human:#JusticeForTrayvon,'#TakeOverFL, or with your own message of support. Email your photo to cquinn@pfaw.org and they will post them to express to the Dream Defenders, and to the country, that young people are standing with them in this fight.